Saddle clamp structure



Oct. 26, 1948. o. L. FLUHARTY 2,452,186

SADDLE CLAMP STRUCTURE Y Filed Jan. 17, 1947 Il rl, l

Patented Oct, 26, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE SADDLE CLAMPSTRUCTURE Omar L. Fluharty, Indianapolis, Ind. Application January 17,1947, serial No. 722,127 (o1. 24- 19i 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamp structure for hose, pipe, conduit, rodand like member applications.

The clamp structure is of saddle type and vis peculiarly applicable butnot necessarily restricted to a cylindrical exterior.

This clamp structure, when applied to a hose,

.an enveloping member, a saddle and nut.

The Chief feature of the present invention resides in the strap typeenveloping member with substantially parallel disposed ends normallyconstrained to separated relation for nut locking purpose, said strapcontacting the member to be clamped for the entire circumference of thatmember except for approximately the distance represented Vby the bore ofthe nut, the saddle contacting adjacent peripheral portions of thatmember in excess of and parallel to the strap omitted portion of themember periphery.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fullyhereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a tubular member tobe clamped, the strap and saddle, the nut being shown in centralsection.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the device shown in Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the saddle and post member.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of a modified form of saddle post.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I0- indicates a member to be clampedsuch as a tube, II a flat strap that nearly envelops the same and havinginitially slightly diverging ends I2 that yield to permit entrace intothe bore I'3 of a nut I4 having counterbore I5.

The opposed faces of said free ends are provided with threads IB and ofa circular diameter equal to that of the threads in the nut bore I3.

The intermediate opposite -tautening of band II upon the member.

-wings 2I. The intermediate boss and connected pair of arcuatelydisposed wings have an arcuate surface complementary Vto that of themember ID `f s shown clearly in Fig. 1, thesp'acing between said pairsof wings is slightly greater than the width of strap Il, or rather end'yI2 thereof.

With the strap in positionabout member I 0, the saddle and post isapplied to that member with the strap ends juxtapositioned to andseparated from the faces I8 of the post I8. Then the nut is applied toand threaded down on the threaded portions of the strap ends. The postserves as a spacer.

Continued nut threading movement toward the member to be clamped resultsin the saddle being forced into engagement'therewith and a Since thestrap ends are initially disposed in slight diverging relation, the saidends tend to lock the nut in place.

Obviously in the tightening application the saddle cannot twist sincethe confronting sides of the arcuate portions are disposed at oppositesidesi of the strap. Also the free ends cannot twist because they bearflatwise on the post and, at the base of said ends, are disposed betweenconfronting faces of the arcuate wings on the saddle.

The foregoing therefore constitutes a simple, positive clamp structurethat completely envelops a member to be clamped thereby. The nutprojecting ends of the strap and/or the post may be utilized for lampunit mounting and like purposes when desired. The counterbore in the nutaccommodates the bosses 20 and provides clearance which permits the nutto seat close to the member I0.

Whenever it is desired to prevent any possible free end-post relativetwist, the post I'I, see Fig. 4 may be notched as at II8 to partiallynest the strap free ends. Thus said ends, coextensive with the length ofthe post, are interlocked together to facilitate other member attachmentthereto by threading and the like. In either instance the strap II has afiat face for member engagement thus distributing the clamping load andlowering the unit area stress.

By Way of example only the strap ends may be stamped or forged to threadformation. An-

oppositely disposed bosses 20 which imeectlserve.-

as fulcrums in the initial tautening of the band to insure full bandcontact with -the n-iei'nberrand5 equal tensioning in the twosband endsWhile the invention has been illustrated and described in great detailin the drawings andiore` going description, the Lsame is to beconsidered ,aswillagistrative,V and, not. .restrictu- .in character.

'Ehe'sseveral .modifications described herein as others. which. will.readily. suggest. them- ;selvesgto persons. skilled .in .this -:art,allare consideredtosbewithin. the broad scope ofthe-invenftion,.,-reference being. had.to-theappendedl claims.,'lheinvention claimedis.; -v iINA clamp-.structure for. a.mem.ber. tobe clamped comprising in combination a strap adaptedttoi substantiallyenvelop theamemberand hav- .ing v.lf-ree endsfdisposedzinspaced relationsubstantiallyparallelto ai.perpendicularj to the4longitudinal,..central..axisfof. the member; ,a 'saddle and Epast meanshaving. a post. portion disposable between-said endscand upon which thesaine slideand; elongated spaccdpcrtions adapted for .member-.engagementaand between whichthe strap vis,.:lis;:1esed,the. cl ppositeffaces. of:they endshaving threads thereon, and a nutvthreadednpon thoseends,Athepost. being: of.. lesserL crosssectional area thanfthenut .threadedbore.

2.. A -clamp. structure-...as dened...by.claim l wherein... the.confronting. faces .of the free ends have., atJaces-fand; they pos-twhere engaged .thiercl1yhassmaila-riaces.M v v Y 3. A clamp structure asdened by' claim. 1 wherein the. nut .includes 3.a counterbore.. .andthesaddleand. means... includes. oppositely. disfwherein the free-endsinitially divergev outwardly 4 posed and outwardly directed fulcrumbosses seatable in the nut counterbore.

4. A clamp structure as dened by claim 1 wherein the confronting facesof the free ends have flat faces and the post where engaged thereby hassimilar faces and the nut includes a counterbore and the saddle and postmeans includes oppositely disposed and outwardly directed fulcrum bossesseatable in the nut counterbore.

5L. A1 clamp structure, asA defned: by claim 1 for nut locking.

6. A clamp structure as defined by claim 1 whereinthe confronting facesof the free ends have at faces and the post where engaged thereby,has-.similar faces and the free ends initially diverge .outwardly fornut locking.

7. A clamp structure as defined by claim 1 .'whereinxthe nut includes acounterbore and the saddle and post means includes oppositely disposed..and.. outwardly directed.v fulcrum. bosses seatable infthenutlcounterboraandthe free ends initially diverge outwardly fornutlocking. 8. A clamp. structure. as denedjby, claim 1 wherein .th'epost includes.- opposite longitudinally disposed recessesfor. atleastpartial nesting of theadjaent free ends.v

.9'.v A. clamp. structure. as. denedby claim.; wherein., the. postincludes oppositelongitudinally disposed Lrecesses for at least partialnesting.. of theadjacent free ends, and the confronting .faces of the.free. ends have flat .faces and the. post, where rengagedAthereby..hascsimilar faces..

10. A clamp. structureas. dehedlby clair'nl wherein. the. post includes.opposite .longitudinally disposed. recesses.. for. at.. least. partial.nesting of theadjacent free ends, and the nut includes. a counterboreancllthe. saddle andpostmeans in.- .cludesoppcsitely disposedandoutwardly. directed ulcrum bosses. seatable in thev nutY counterbore.11. A clamp structure. as dened by claim 1 Y wherein the post includes.opposite .longitudinally No references cited.v

